Should I see a doctor after a car accident?

Many car accident injuries, including soft tissue injuries, brain injuries, and others often take a while to fully reveal themselves. In those first few moments after the crash, you’ve got adrenaline pumping, your mind is racing, and you’re probably not really feeling the full effects of your injuries. 

But in the days and weeks ahead, those “mild” soft tissue injuries might become much more chronic and limiting. That headache you expected to subside after a good night’s sleep might go on and on and on. You may find that when you try to go back to work, spend time with your family and friends, or just relax, your brain won’t cooperate due to memory problems, mood swings, or constant anxiety or depression. 

Seeking medical care sooner rather than later greatly increases your chances of identifying and dealing with these problems early, which can mean better long-term health outcomes and fewer money woes. 

Car accident injuries that often require surgery 

These severe injuries often require surgery to make a full recovery: 

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Mild TBIs and concussions usually don’t require surgery. Yet, they tend to be more common in car accidents. Severe TBIs such as skull fractures, open head trauma, hematomas, hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal damage can result in permanent brain damage and be life-threatening. These injuries often require surgery, along with other therapeutic treatments. 
• Severe bone fractures: Mild bone fractures may only require casting to heal. Bones that are broken into two or more pieces need to be put back together and held in place. Metal plates, pins, screws, and wires are often used. 
• Neck injuries, back injuries, and spine injuries: Slipped or herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or spinal cord damage can lead to serious (and sometimes permanent) pain and complications. The following surgical procedures are necessary after sustaining a severe injury to the neck, back and spine: 

• Spinal fusion: Two or more vertebrae fused together to fix a broken vertebra. 
• Laminectomy: A small part of a vertebra surgically removed to reduce pressure on a spinal nerve. 
• Discectomy: Part of a herniated disc removed to reduce pressure on a spinal nerve. 
• Vertebroplasty: Broken vertebra repaired with acrylic bone cement filling. 

• Soft tissue injures (muscle, tendon, or ligament tears): When a muscle, tendon, or ligament tears, it may not heal without surgery. We often see this with knee injuries and rotator cuff tears. 

• Severe injuries to the face: Severe facial injuries from airbag deployment, broken glass, and other factors can cause disfigurement and permanent scarring. These types of injuries often require plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery. 

In addition to surgery, you may have to undergo months of physical therapy, compression, elevation, ice/heat therapy and pain medication. On top of that, you may need to rest and avoid any physically demanding activities until you recover. 

This can be both financially and emotionally devastating for crash victims.